Blocking for printing-faces.



PATENTED JULY 12, 1904.

J. L. SHILLING. BLOCKING FORPRINTING PAGES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1903.

NO MODEL.

Jrweldor lm ofiwzawm I v o o O O O 030 0 O O O 03036303030 0 0 0 G O O O 0 O O 030 .-0 O 'O O .it yields under the UNITED I STATES Patented J uly 12, 1904.

PATENT OETTcE.

BLOCKING FOR PRINTING-FACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,640,

dated July 12, 1904.

Application filed June 22, 1903. Serial No. 162,465. (No model."

To It whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN LENHART SHIL- LING, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful 1mprovement in Blocking for Printing-Faces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the blocking which is used to support metallic printingfaces--- such as half-tones, zinc etchings, electrotypes, and the likc-and to keep the same in proper relation to other cuts or to the type with which the same maybe associated in a printing-form. To meet the practical conditions of the art, an ideal blocking should be of such material that it will neither yield to pressure in any direction nor shrink nor swell by variations of moisture or atmospheric conditions. 'ood is the material in general use for the purpose indicated; but in its nature pressure of the press. \Vhen a printing-face is mounted thereon and adjusted so as to be exactly type-high, a variation in the moisture ofthe atmosphere or of the room in which it is used will vary the'height of the printing-face, and in like manner when the body of the block is adjusted to conform to the standard type-bodies such adjustment is destroyed by any shrinking or swelling of the wood block, and in addition to variation in size there is a constant tendency to warp or twist out of shape.

The objections and difficulties above described exist even when the greatest care is used-to select the best varieties and quality of wood and to have the same perfectly seasoned; but the objections to wood are greatly increased when, as often happens, it is impossible to obtain perfectly-seasoned material and the best selection of variety and quality.

To obviate the difliculties above described, various attempts have been made to use metallic blockings in place of the wood, as such material is not varied by moisture or printing pressure. The added weightan d expense of metal for this purpose have been to some extent avoided by channeling or arching the blocking; but as it is necessary that such blocking be cut to fit any desired face the cutting thereof may cause portions of the block at the edge thereof to overhang without sufiicient support to the face or side support to the type with which it may be associated in the form. Normeans ready at hand is provided for attaching the printing-face, and when once cut the hlockings are of no use beyond the use or life of the face.

It is the object of my invention to provide a blocking structure, preferably of metal, which shall be sufliciently rigid to resist the highest pressure which may be placed upon it in a printingpress, the individual blocks of which shall not be varied in size or by atmospheric or other moisture, the structure of which shall provide ready available means for attaching the printing plates or faces thereto, and which may be readily out to any smaller size or small portions of which may readily be built up to larger size.

The principles of my invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective of a portion of an elcctrotype-face mounted on my improved blocking cut at one end on the line of a securing-screw. Fig. 2 represents a top view of-suchblocking, and Fig. 3 represents an enlarged end view of Fig. 1.

The blocking which I propose to use may be of any material which shall satisfy the ideal conditions to be sought and as above described. 'I prefer to use a rather soft alloy of the kind known as type-metal. Such material should be formed into sheets or blocks of convenient size and approximately seven-eighths to three-fourths of an inch in thickness. Such blocks are illustrated in the several figures of the drawings by A and should be provided with vertical perforations or openings B, which preferably extend entirely through the block in the direction of the printing pressure and vertical height. Such perforations should be made as close as possible to each other, provided themate'rial is not weakened below impression strength. I prefer the arrangement shown in the drawings, in which the openings are in continuous lines extending across the plate,

the openings in each line being staggered with but the said openthe openings in the next;

shape ings may be of any size or shape and still be within the scope of my invention, provided they are not so large that the printing-face to be supported by the blocking will be sufficiently supported by the intervening metal, and it is notmaterial to my invention by what means the structure described is obtained or made.

The structure illustrated provides a ready means of attaching the printing face or plate thereto by means of the screw-nails C. If these are made with a very long pitch to the thread and are of a size slightly larger than the openings B, they may be driven into place and in going home will make their own thread in the metal of the block A. hen, therefore, it is desired to remove the face from the block, the screw-nails may be started or entirely removed by a screw-driver.

The printing-faces also may be readily attached to the blocking by the method known as anchoring or on principles similar thereto, and other means of attaching the faces will readily occur to the skilled workman.

It will be seen that the structure illustrated when provided in blocks of convenient size may be readily subdivided by sawing, especially as there is hardly any point at which division may be required in which some portion of one or more rows of openings will not be comprehended in the saw cut. \Vhen it is desired to build up a block from a number of smaller ones, they can be readily soldered together with or without the assistance of dovetailing, and the block can then be shaped and sized as to any dimension by the same tools and with the same facility as the common wood blocking, for which it is a complete and improved substitute.

Having thus described my invention and the uses and advantages thereof, 1 will add thatI do not limit myself to the exact structural forms or arrangements shown, but claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. An improved article of manufacture, a block formed with a multiplicity of vertical perforations normally having smooth walls, in combination with the plate, and the fastening means therefor, said last-named means being received in certain of said openings and having its exterior formed with portions which engage in the walls of said openings, said block being formed of soft metal, substantially as described.

2. A block formed of soft metal provided with rows of vertical perforations, in combination with a plate arranged on the block, and a securing means therefor adapted to engage said openings, said securing means being of greater diameter than the openings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of June, 1903.

JOHN LENHART SHILLING.

itnesses:

(J. K. CHAMBERLAIN, A. S. PHILLIPS. 

